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A review by mg_in_md_
The Great Passage by Shion Miura
3.0
To be rated/reviewed after this month’s book club meeting
This slim novel was a charming story that doesn't fit neatly into a single category. On its surface, a story about a team of dictionary authors/editors/publishers probably sounds incredibly boring, but it is so much more than that. The team is tasked with completing "The Great Passage," a 2,900-page tome of the Japanese language. When most of the members are first assigned to this team, they are less than enthused. However, the passion of Mitsuya Majime for the project is infectious and his quirky charms are hard to resist. The story focuses on relationships and the power of words. While some of the in-depth discussions of the technical linguistic nuances of words being considered for The Great Passage can be a little tedious, they clearly conveyed Majime's passion and love of language. The translation was excellent and helped clearly explain complex concepts that might be unfamiliar to a non-Japanese reader. If you are looking for an upbeat, quirky, feel-good story, this may be just the book for you.
This slim novel was a charming story that doesn't fit neatly into a single category. On its surface, a story about a team of dictionary authors/editors/publishers probably sounds incredibly boring, but it is so much more than that. The team is tasked with completing "The Great Passage," a 2,900-page tome of the Japanese language. When most of the members are first assigned to this team, they are less than enthused. However, the passion of Mitsuya Majime for the project is infectious and his quirky charms are hard to resist. The story focuses on relationships and the power of words. While some of the in-depth discussions of the technical linguistic nuances of words being considered for The Great Passage can be a little tedious, they clearly conveyed Majime's passion and love of language. The translation was excellent and helped clearly explain complex concepts that might be unfamiliar to a non-Japanese reader. If you are looking for an upbeat, quirky, feel-good story, this may be just the book for you.